Ball-bearing car-axle box.



Patented Aug. 22, I899.

J. W. BREEDING.

BALL BEARING CAR AXLE -BOX.

(Appl cat on fll d-Tun 20 1899) (No Model.)

WITNESSES."

A TTOHNEYS.

UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN XV. BREEDING, OF BISBEE, ARIZONA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO EMIL MARKS AND RICHARD P. BROIVN, OF SAME PLACE.

BALE-BEARING SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 631,693, dated August 22, '1 899.

Application filed June 20, 1399.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. BREEDING, residing at Bisbee, in the county of Cochise and Territory of Arizona, have made Certain new and useful Improvements in Ball Bearing Car-Axle Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in oar-axle boxes, and has for an object to provide an improved construction of ball bearing boxes which can be cheaply made, readily adapted to any style of outside box,will greatly reduce friction, and in which the end guard-plates will form bearings for the shoulders on the axle and will also operate to retain the balls in the undercut grooves in which the same are fitted.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my box as in use. Fig. 2 is a transverse section, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view, of the improved box. Fig. t is a detail inverted perspective view of the box, one, of the end guard plates being shown detached; and Fig. 5 is a detail cross-sectionaL View on about line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

The outside box A, axle B, and saddle-blockJ C may be of any desired construction. The box as shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4 embodies my invention and may be conformed on its upper side at its opposite side ed es to the exterior box, in which the improved box D is to be used. Thus the opposite side edges of the box D may be extended, as shown in dotted lines D in Fig. 3, or it may partake of the form shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and also illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4E. The inner side of the box D is curved to fit the axle B and is provided with a plurality of undercut hallways E, which extend in the direction of length of the box D and parallel to the axle B throughout the length of the box D and open at the opposite ends of said box, as will be understood from Fig. 4. It will be noticed from Figs. 2 and 4: that the upper pair of ballways E lie one on each side of a point vertically above the axis of the axle B, so the semi No. 72 ,244, (No model.)

. by any single row of balls, but will be distributed throughout the several series. By thus distributing the weight I greatly reduce friction and'secure' an easier running of the box, as will be readily understood. By employing balls instead of rollers I reduce the friction and am also able to readily replace theballs Wheneverdesired. The balls F, as shown in Fig. 2, fit in the ballways E and protrude beyond the inner curved surface of the box so they bear uniformly on the axle.

The guard-plates G at the opposite ends of the box form abutments for the shoulders B on the axle B and also operate to retain the balls F in their ballways. These plates G are curved on their'inner edges to fit the axle and slide at their side edges in undercut ways G, provided at the ends of the block B. In their outer edges the plates G are notched at G forming seats for their actuating springplates H, which are pivoted at one end H to the block D, so they can be swung at their other ends into and out of engagement with the seats G in the end guard-plates. By this construction the springs H may be lifted at o 'ne end and swung to one side, as shown in gig. 4:, to permit the convenient removal of ,the guard-plate G.

The springs Hpermit the guard-plates G to yield slightly as may be desired and are so connected and associated with the plates G as to permit the convenient removal and application of said plates. The balls When introduced into their hallways E bear between the opposite guard-plates G and ofier no resistance to the movement of such plates G in and out whenever desired.

It will be noticed that my box serves as a substitute for the ordinary brasses and operates as a half-box when fitted in the outside box, which may be of any desired construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A car-axle box provided with the series of parallel longitudinally-extended undercut hallways extending to and opening at its ends and provided at its ends with the undercut guideways for the guard-plates, the-balls weight borne by the box will not be carried fitting in said ballways, the guard-plates fitting and movable in their said guideways and adapted to form abutments for shoulders 011 the axle and to retain the balls in their ballways, said guard-plates being provided in their upper edges with seats for the springplates, and the spring-plates pivoted at one end to the body of the box and arranged at their other ends to be adjusted into and out of engagement with the seats of the guardplates substantially as set forth.

2. A ball-bearing car-axle box comprising the box or body having its inner side curved to conform to the axle and provided in said curved side with undercut hallways or grooves extending parallel with the axis of its curve and lying on opposite sides of a line vertically above such axis, the balls in said ballways or grooves and protruding in position to bear upon the axle, and means for retaining the balls substantially as described.

3. In a box substantially as described the combination with the box or body provided in its under side with the undercut hallways extending to and opening at its ends and having said ends provided with the guideways for the guard-plates, the guard-plates fitting and movable in the guideways and extending over the ends of the hallways, and springs for actuating said guard-plates substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the car-axle box having its under side grooved and provided with balls and provided at its ends with the guideways for the guard-plates,the guard-plates fitting in said guideways and provided in their outer edges with notches forming seats for the actuating-springs, and the springs pivoted at one end to the box and hearing at their other ends in the notches of the guard-plates substantially as set forth.

5. The combination substantially as herein described of the box curved on its underside and provided in said curved side with the longitudinally-extended undercut hallways ranging on opposite sides of the center of the box and opening at the ends thereof, the balls in said hallways, the guard-plates sliding along the ends of the box over the ends of the ballways and provided in their outer edges with seats for the spring-plates,and the spring plates pivoted at one end to the box and bearing at their other ends in the seats of the guard-plates substantially as described.

6. A ball-bearing car-axle box having its inner side provided with undercut hallways or grooves extending parallel with its axis, and provided with the balls in said ways and at its end with movable devices constituting means for retaining said balls substantially as set forth.

JOHN W. BREEDING. Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN. 

